Director of Assessment and Academic Effectiveness

University of Arkansas System • Fort Smith, AR

68d • $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is a dynamic, mid-sized public university that’s redefining higher education. We’re on a mission to provide transformative, hands-on learning experiences for students of all backgrounds and aspirations. Our multi-faceted approach to education offers a wealth of opportunities, with over 70 academic programs, including certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. We’re committed to building a diverse community that mirrors Arkansas’s rich tapestry, reflecting our dedication to serving the state’s varied population while enhancing the quality of our institution. As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10 percent of employee salary. Fort Smith, Arkansas Nestled along the Arkansas River, this vibrant city offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Old West at the Fort Smith National Historic Site, explore the eclectic local art scene, or take a scenic stroll along the picturesque riverfront trails. With a welcoming community, diverse dining options, and a thriving downtown, Fort Smith is the ideal destination for history enthusiasts and those seeking modern amenities. Thank you for your interest in joining our university. Below you will find details for the position including any supplementary documentation and/or questions you should review before submitting your application. For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at [phone]. If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process please contact Human Resources at 479-788-7080. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position to which they have applied.

Requirements

• Master’s degree with higher education experience.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administration
• Knowledge of assessment best practices
• Knowledge of HLC accreditation processes and requirements
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a faculty member in higher education, experience with institutional and programmatic accreditation, experience with academic program review and academic assessment.

Responsibilities

• Oversees institutional assessment through collaboration with faculty, staff, and administration.
• Helps to maintain and improve the campus assessment framework directed at improving student learning and academic quality.
• Shares best assessment practices and serves as a resource to faculty and staff.
• Works with accreditation staff and administrators to ensure alignment of assessment and academic program review process with accreditation efforts.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive assessment strategy aligned with the university's mission, goals, and accreditation standards.
• Collaborate with academic departments and faculty to establish program-level learning outcomes and assessment plans.
• Collaborate with non-academic departments, staff, and faculty to establish program or unit-level learning outcomes and assessment plans.
• Lead the development and implementation of assessment tools, rubrics, and methodologies to measure student learning outcomes.
• Create an annual assessment calendar, including timelines for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Design and manage data collection processes for assessment, including surveys, focus groups, interviews, and direct assessments.
• Oversee the collection, organization, and analysis of assessment data, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
• Utilize statistical analysis and data visualization techniques to interpret assessment results and identify trends and patterns.
• Provide regular reports and presentations to academic leadership and faculty on assessment findings and recommendations.
• Provide training and professional development opportunities to faculty and staff on assessment best practices, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Support faculty in developing and refining assessment plans, rubrics, and data collection instruments.
• Foster a culture of assessment by promoting the importance of data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with regional and specialized accreditation standards, including those of the Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission. This task will include coordinating assessment efforts for accreditation purposes.
• Collaborate with accreditation bodies to prepare self-study reports, assessment data, and evidence of institutional effectiveness.
• Stay abreast of current trends, research, and best practices in assessment, accreditation, and institutional effectiveness.
• Serve as the Accreditation Liaison Officer from UAFS to the Higher Learning Commission.
• Serve as a resource for academic units by offering consultation on integrating student learning outcomes assessment into program review, ensuring alignment with institutional and accreditation expectations.
• Facilitate Use of Assessment Data: Help departments interpret and apply assessment results (e.g., course-level, program-level, ULOs) to inform decisions about curriculum, pedagogy, and resource allocation within the program review process.
• Ensure Consistency and Quality: Support consistency across program reviews by offering templates, rubrics, and examples, and by reviewing assessment sections to ensure quality and actionable analysis.
• Connect Program Review to Institutional Planning: Bridge program-level findings with broader institutional effectiveness goals, ensuring that recommendations from assessment feed into strategic planning, budget prioritization, and accreditation reporting.
• Build Capacity Through Training and Support: Offer workshops, tools, and one-on-one coaching to help faculty understand how to document, analyze, and use assessment findings meaningfully as part of continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for maintaining a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner to foster teamwork and by providing leadership to subordinates.
• Requires consistent on-time attendance.

Benefits

• university contributions to health, dental, life, and disability insurance
• tuition waivers for employees and their families
• 12 official holidays
• immediate leave accrual
• a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10 percent of employee salary

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees